Kano state government has paid the sum of N1,453,000,000 subsidy for the 2,906 intending pilgrims of the state, as part of its effort to alleviate their financial burden following the increase of the Hajj fares by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday in Kano the Director General, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Laminu Rabi’u Danbappa said, the subsidy was meant for those who have already registered and paid the initial deposit to the Board.
He said the state government paid the sum of N500,000 for each of the 2,906 intending pilgrims which means the intending pilgrims, who had already paid N4.9 million initial fare, are to pay N1.4 million balance.
Danbappa added that the Kano State Government decided concerning the recent increase of the Hajj fares by NAHCON due to instability in foreign exchange as the main reason.
According to him, the governor’s gesture came after considering the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians, which made it difficult for the Kano intending pilgrims to balance the increased N1.9 million.
” We consider the current economic hardship people are facing and the increase of Hajj Fares is a great challenge to many intending pilgrims, that is why we have come up with this intervention to support our prospective pilgrims,” he said.
He urged all intending pilgrims to ensure payment of the remaining N1.4 million balance before tomorrow, March 28 as directed by NAHCON.
The DG also called on NAHCON to ask for a deadline extension from Saudi Arabia to enable intending pilgrims to pay their Hajj fare balance on time.
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
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